Well until I change my mind yet again (I knew I shouldn't have read that thread about favourite foreign railways!), here's the almost-final plan. I'm still going back and forth on the final bits and bobs at the end of the week, I friggin' hate weekends and engineering works! I'm going to be doing some in-depth planning for the GA bits later, which will help make the decisions for the Sunday easier. Expect a revision to the final portion therefore...
Monday 17th October is the start of the fun and games, and it's off to Carlisle for some 37 bashing and a social with Blindtraveller and his wife.
Tuesday 18th October, it's 37 bashing in combination with the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway with more social time before Blindtraveller and his wife head home.
Wednesday 19th October, a nice and lazy start due to the ching on the early services, I don't start out until the 1025 from Carlisle! I might do a quick shack attack somewhere in the area as a TTF (Tech's Thriller Filler) mind, but I'll decide that on the day. The afternoon is Tyne and Wear Metro bashing, as I need a megaton of shacks up there and 26 trains on it. I do have a plan to do something slightly different too of course, which depends on the gen...
Thursday 20th October, a much earlier start with the 0859 from Newcastle, the only HST journey booked. I will of course hope for the 1003 from York to have an HST turfed out on it, as a journey down the ECML on a MK4 is not enjoyable. York to Peterborough will, of course, have Tech's Mobile Disco pumping out some thumping tunes all the way! I shouldn't be complaining I guess, my one and only chance to score a 91 on this trip.
From there, it's all a little bit undecided. I have several ideas floating around, as I would like to do some required preserved/narrow gauge lines while in the area. All I know for sure is that I need to look at the atlas and make some decisions, rapidly, and that I have base camp in Acle that night. As long as I can make that, and the loco-hauled action, then all is gravy. Lush, thick, homemade gravy at that
Friday 21st October, the plan is *currently* to spend 3 full days in Anglia so a 3 in 7 Anglia Plus will be sourced. The name of the game therefore is to chase after my last 3 Anglia 170s, my last 5 Anglia 90s and of course the 153s and 156s that I need. Any winning 37 and 68 action will also be welcome, unsurprisingly. Shack scoring on this rover is also very much on the agenda!
Saturday 22nd October, base camp the previous night is set to be not far from Norwich station, so the earliest possible start to the shack scoring mission is looking the most sensible idea. Again, chasing requirements is a high priority, and base camp on this occasion is in Great Yarmouth.
From here, nothing is set in stone whatsoever. Engineering work south of Witham into London is putting me off going that way, as is engineering works between Norwich and Peterborough. So my original plan to head to London on the Sunday is out of the window, as is the backup plan to head home that day. I'm not willing to endure a 2 hour replacement bus journey if I don't have to! Things are being looked at here, I might revise the Thursday, Friday and Saturday to end up cancelling my booking in Great Yarmouth (saves £25) and head home on the Saturday. That option gives me two days at home to rest, recover and prepare for a return to work, as well as to get started on bookwork. Already I know that will take some doing, and there may need to be another epic Tech's Bookwork Weekend to get it all done.
Right now, though, I've got Bonkers 4 - World Frenzy on with Dougal's Mix playing. For the duration, while the brain does its thing, I'll be filling the ear canals with some happy hardcore from the late 1990s. Now if it was Bonkers 8 - The Resurrection, I'd probably stay at home all day and enjoy the nostalgia from 2002...As it is, I'll be heading out in about 90 minutes to get the last two Heart of Wales shacks in. Expect a mini trip report this evening...
